Clusia plant named ‘LICLUS02’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Clusia rosea cultivar named ‘LICLUS02’ which is characterized by a broad and upright growth habit, obovate plant form, moderately free branching, large medium green leaves that are very narrowly margined yellow-green, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Clusia rosea (L.).

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Clusia rosea disclosedherein has been given the variety denomination ‘LICLUS02’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘LICLUS02’ is the result of a spontaneous whole-plantmutation of Clusia rosea ‘Princess’ (not patented in the United States;Community Plant Variety Office Grant No. EU8456) which was discovered atthe inventor's commercial greenhouse in Uithoorn, the Netherlands inJanuary of 2016 and was ultimately selected for commercialization due toits compact size and large medium green leaves.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction was initiated in March of2016, by way of meristematic tissue culture, in Uithoorn, theNetherlands. Through two subsequent generations, the unique features ofthis cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘LICLUS02’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘LICLUS02’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘LICLUS02’ as a new and distinct Clusia rosea cultivar:

-   -   1. ‘LICLUS02’ is a moderately branched, compact plant; and    -   2. ‘LICLUS02’ exhibits medium green leaves that are very        narrowly margined yellow-green; and    -   3. ‘LICLUS02’ exhibits large leaves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of‘LICLUS02’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Uithoorn, theNetherlands. This plant is approximately 6 months old, shown planted ina 12 cm nursery container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical mature foliagehabit of ‘LICLUS02’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in August of 2017describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 6 month old‘LICLUS02’ plants grown in 12 cm nursery containers at a commercialgreenhouse in Uithoorn, the Netherlands. Plants were produced withoutthe use of pest or disease control measures, and also without applyingany fertilizer. Plants were grown under indirect sunlight and nophotoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to the plants.Irrigation was provided by way of flood benches.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘LICLUS02’ hasnot been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘LICLUS02’ and a comparison with the parentand closest known comparator, Clusia rosea ‘Princess’, is providedbelow.

-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Broad, upright growth habit.        -   Plant form.—Obovate.        -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—26.6 cm, on            average.        -   Plant diameter.—Average of 27.5 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Low to moderate.        -   Plant vigor.—Moderate.        -   Propagation.—Type — Meristematic tissue culture. Time to            initiate roots — Approximately 40 days at 21 degrees            Celsius. Crop time — No less than 6 months, depending on the            size of the container.        -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Plants have            not been observed to be susceptible or resistant to            pathogens and pests common to Clusia.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10            to 13 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;            moderate tolerance to wind and rain.-   Root system:    -   -   General description.—Small, fleshy, free-branching roots.-   Stems:    -   -   Branching habit.—Basal branching, with one primary stem and            eight lateral branches, on average; freely branching. All            stems and branches produce a green-white (no corresponding            R.H.S. color) milky substance when damaged.        -   Dimensions.—Primary stem varies with age; oldest lateral            branch is 8.8 cm long and 0.6 cm in diameter with an            internode length of 3.5 cm, on average.        -   Cross section.—Rounded.        -   Texture and luster.—Glabrous and slightly glossy.        -   Aspect.—60 degrees from vertical.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Color, juvenile.—Yellow-green, RHS 144C.        -   Color, mature.—Yellow-green, RHS 144A.        -   Color at internodes.—Yellow-green, RHS 144A.-   Foliage:    -   -   Compound or simple.—Simple.        -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 6 leaves per lateral branch.        -   Shape.—Broad elliptical to broad obovate.        -   Dimensions.—9.2 cm long by 7.8 cm wide, on average.        -   Aspect.—Flat; midrib is very slightly carinate.        -   Apex.—Broad acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse to very short attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire; not undulated.        -   Pubescence, texture and luster of adaxial surface.—Glabrous,            leathery, and glossy.        -   Pubescence, texture and luster of abaxial surface.—Glabrous,            leathery, and moderately glossy.        -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Green, nearest to            RHS 143A, and very narrowly margined green-white, nearest to            RHS 157C. Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — Yellow-green,            nearest to RHS 144A, and very narrowly margined green-white,            nearest to RHS 157C. Mature foliage, adaxial surface —            Nearest to in between green, RHS NN137A, and yellow-green,            nearest to RHS 147A; very narrowly margined yellow-green,            RHS 144B. Mature foliage, abaxial surface — Yellow-green,            nearest to in between RHS 144A and 146B, and very narrowly            margined yellow-green, RHS 144B.        -   Venation.—Venation pattern — Pinnate. Color, mature adaxial            surface — Yellow-green, nearest to a combination of RHS 144B            and 144C. Color, mature abaxial surface — Yellow-green,            nearest to RHS 144B.        -   Petiole.—Length — 0.8 cm, on average. Cross-section —            Flattened. Average diameter — Horizontal width of 0.6 cm and            vertical width of 0.5 cm. Texture, pubescence and luster —            Smooth, glabrous; adaxial surface is glossy and the abaxial            surface is moderately glossy. Strength — Strong. Color,            adaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144B. Color,            abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144B.-   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date.-   Flower bud: No flowering has been observed to date.-   Flower: No flowering has been observed to date.-   Reproductive organs: No flowering has been observed to date.-   Fruit and seed: No flowering has been observed to date.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANT AND CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘LICLUS02’ may be distinguished from itsparent, Clusia rosea ‘Princess’, by the characteristics described inChart 1.

CHART 1 Characteristic ‘LICLUS02’ ‘Princess’ Growth habit. Less compactthan More compact than 'Princess’. ‘LICLUS02’. Plant height. Taller than‘Princess’. Shorter than ‘LICLU02’. Leaf size. Larger than ‘Princess’.Smaller than ‘LICLUS02’.

COMPARISONS WITH THE MOST SIMILAR VARIETY OF COMMON KNOWLEDGE

Plants of the new cultivar ‘LICLUS02’ are most similar to the commercialvariety, Clusia ‘LICLUS01’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,776). A comparison of‘LICLUS01’ with ‘LICLUS02’ is described in Chart 2.

CHART 2 Characteristic ‘LICLUS02’ ‘LICLUS01’ Growth habit. Moderatelybranched. Freely branching. Leaf aspect. 55 degrees to vertical. 60degrees to vertical. Leaf size. Longer than Shorter than ‘LICLUS01’.‘LICLUS02’. General. coloration Green to yellow-green; Green; darkergreen than of mature leaf. lighter green than ‘LICLUS02’. ‘LICLUS01.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Clusia rosea plant named ‘LICLUS02’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 